March 24, 2006, headline from Amy Goodman's DemocracyNow.org - "New Study Criticizes Power of Israeli Lobby in Washington - And a dean at Harvard University and a professor at the University of Chicago are coming under intense criticism for publishing an academic critique of the pro-Israeli lobby in Washington.  THE PAPER CHARGES THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS WILLINGLY SET ASIDE ITS OWN SECURITY AND THAT OF MANY OF ITS ALLIES IN ORDER TO ADVANCE THE INTERESTS OF ISRAEL.

In addition the study accuses the pro-Israeli lobby, particularly AIPAC - the American Israel Public Affairs Committee - of manipulating the U.S. media, policing academia and silencing critics of Israel by labelling them as anti-Semitic.  The study also examines the role played by pro-Israeli neo-conservatives in the lead-up to the U.S. invasion of Iraq.  The authors of the study, Stephen Walt, a dean at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, and John Mearsheimer of University of Chicago are now themselves being accused of anti-Semitism.  In Washington, Democratic Congressman Eliot Engel of New York described the professors as 'dishonest so-called intellectuals' and 'anti-Semites.'  Harvard professor, Ruth Wisse, called for the paper to be withdrawn.  Harvard Law School Professor Alan Dershowitz described the study as trash that could have been written by Neo-Nazi David Duke.  The New York Sun reported Harvard has received several calls from 'pro-Israel donors' expressing concern about the paper.  Harvard has already taken steps to distance itself from the report.  Earlier this week it removed the logo of the Kennedy School of Government from the paper and added a new disclaimer to the study.  The 81-page report was originally published on Harvard's website and an edited version appeared in the London Review of Books.  The controversy comes less than a year after Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz attempted to block the publication of Norman Finkelstein's book 'Beyond Chutzpah:  On The Misuse of Anti-Semitism and the Abuse of History.'"

Amy Goodman 6/9/08: Iraq is trying to assure Iran it would not be used as a staging ground for a military attack under a long-term agreement with the United States. On Sunday, visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told Iranian officials that Iraq would not become a "platform" for harming Iran and its neighbors. The agreement would cover the status of US forces in Iraq following the expiration of its UN mandate in July. The Independent of London reported last week US officials are leveraging tens of billions of dollars in seized Iraqi assets to push through its demands. The Bush administration is seeking to permanently keep more than fifty military bases in Iraq. It's also insisting on continuing military campaigns without consultation with the Iraqi government and immunity for American soldiers and contractors.

A group of Iraqi lawmakers have released a letter showing a majority would oppose the deal if it lacked a commitment for a US withdrawal. The letter says, "The majority of Iraqi representatives strongly reject any military-security, economic, commercial, agricultural, investment or political agreement with the United States that is not linked to clear mechanisms that obligate the occupying American military forces to fully withdraw from Iraq."

In Israel and the Occupied Territories, Israel is threatening a new full-scale military attack on the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told reporters last week an Israeli attack is more likely than a ceasefire after Palestinian rocket fire killed an Israeli civilian. It was the eighth Israeli to die from Gaza rocket fire since Israel abandoned its Gaza settlements years ago. Israel has killed hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza and intensified the humanitarian crisis with a crippling blockade. In Gaza, Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri called Olmert's comments a US-backed threat.

Sami Abu Zuhri: "These threats are proof that there is a new American green light to launch a new round of Zionist war against Gaza. We take these threats seriously, but these threats will not frighten us or the Palestinian people, and we will confront it with all strength."

Meanwhile, Israel is also escalating threats against Iran. Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz has drawn criticism for saying last week an Israeli attack would be inevitable. Mofaz said, "If Iran continues with its program for developing nuclear weapons, we will attack it. The sanctions are ineffective. Attacking Iran, in order to stop its nuclear plans, will be unavoidable." It was the most direct threat against Iran from an Israeli official to date. In a letter to the Security Council, Iran protested Mofaz's remarks, calling his statement a violation of the UN Charter barring the threat of force. Iran lodged the same complaint over comments by Senator Hillary Clinton last month that Iran would be "destroyed" if it attacked Israel.

Meanwhile, Senator Barack Obama has appeared to backtrack on controversial comments on the future status of Jerusalem. Speaking last week before AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Obama said Jerusalem must remain undivided and under Israeli control. Israel has occupied (Arab) East Jerusalem since 1967, and Palestinians see it as part of any future state. In a follow-up interview with CNN, Obama said it will be up to Israelis and Palestinians to negotiate.

[On 2/15/08 NBC Universal's Nightly News celebrated its 60th birthday by previewing and promoting George H.W. Bush's 2/18/08 endorsement of John McCain on "Presidents' Day". That's news-worthy? You mean there was someone on the planet who expected the senior Bush to endorse a Democrat? To make clear to its audience where NBC Universal stood in this presidential election (as if it had not been a mantra for months by Tim Russert), on 6/9/08 Brian Williams gave the "folksy" McCain a full five minutes - actually a commercial - uninterrupted by any challenges on NBC Nightly News. Williams: Part of our conversation earlier this afternoon with John McCain. We have placed the full interview on our website, that's nightly.msnbc.com. Obama talked with CNBC's John Harwood - ONE MINUTE!]